---
product_id: 5302685
title: "A Grip on the Mane of Life: An Authorized Biography of Earl V. Shaffer"
brand: "donaldson david"
price: "A$45"
currency: AUD
in_stock: true
category: "Paperback"
url: https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/5302685-a-grip-on-the-mane-of-life-an-authorized-biography
store_origin: AU
region: Australia
---

# Inspiring Journey Authorized Biography Personal Insights A Grip on the Mane of Life: An Authorized Biography of Earl V. Shaffer

**Brand:** donaldson david
**Price:** A$45
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 📚 Unlock the Journey of a Trailblazer!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** A Grip on the Mane of Life: An Authorized Biography of Earl V. Shaffer by donaldson david
- **How much does it cost?** A$45 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.com.au](https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/5302685-a-grip-on-the-mane-of-life-an-authorized-biography)

## Best For

- donaldson david enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted donaldson david brand quality
- Free international shipping included
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## Key Features

- • **Timeless Wisdom:** Discover life lessons that resonate with today's challenges.
- • **Richly Illustrated:** Enjoy stunning visuals that bring Shaffer's adventures to life.
- • **Uncover the Legend:** Dive deep into the life of Earl V. Shaffer, the first person to hike the Appalachian Trail.
- • **Exclusive Interviews:** Gain unique perspectives from those who knew him best.
- • **Inspiring Narratives:** Experience the transformative power of nature through Shaffer's personal stories.

## Overview

A Grip on the Mane of Life is an authorized biography that chronicles the extraordinary life of Earl V. Shaffer, the first person to hike the Appalachian Trail. This compelling narrative combines personal anecdotes, exclusive interviews, and stunning illustrations to inspire readers with timeless wisdom and a deep appreciation for nature.

## Description

After serving four and a half years in the Army during WWII-mostly in the battle-torn islands of the South Pacific-and along the way losing his best friend at Iwo Jima, Earl Shaffer came home to Pennsylvania with a large dose of military depression. After rattling around for a while he decided to act upon a prewar dream of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail, a decision that was spurred by reading a magazine article stating that such a feat was likely impossible. Earl achieved his goal, and history's muse presented him with a personal niche in her gallery. Over the course of three decades, he wrote a memoir of that hike that was published by the Appalachian Trail Conference as Walking with Spring. The book became an instant hiking classic. Most of Earl's writing was devoted to his first love, poetry. Earl penned more than a thousand poems during his lifetime, a trove that includes a respectable number of polished gems. In mid-career he returned to hiking. In 1963, he hiked five hundred miles of the Cascade Crest Trail, and, in 1965, he again hiked the entire Appalachian Trail-this time in the opposite direction. When not hiking, Earl spent most of his free time working on the Trail. He built trail, constructed shelters, and masterminded a major trail relocation in Pennsylvania. These were not his only interests. Earl was moved by the plight of Native Americans. In the early 1960s, Earl played an active role in the ultimately failed effort to stop construction of Pennsylvania's Kinzua Dam. After what one would think was already a full and productive life, Earl had yet another dream-his grand finale. In 1998, Earl decided to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of his first A.T. thru-hike by doing an encore. Just a few weeks shy of his eightieth birthday, Earl Shaffer climbed yet again to the crest of Maine's mile-high mountain, Katahdin, whereupon the Appalachian Trail icon became a national legend. This book is his story.

## Features

- A Grip on the Mane of Life An Authorized Biography of Earl V Shaffer

## Images

![A Grip on the Mane of Life: An Authorized Biography of Earl V. Shaffer - Image 1](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51GdiO0-gYL.jpg)

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*Product available on Desertcart Australia*
*Store origin: AU*
*Last updated: 2026-02-13*